Dan-11 Posted April 5, 2011 Report Share Posted April 5, 2011 I wasn't quite sure which forum to post this to so forgive me please if I chose the wrong one...I have a desktop that I have been running Ubuntu Linux on for quite some time, it works fine no problems. Boots fine and runs properly, always has. I am trying to overwrite it now and put Windows on it. Frankly, any version... but no matter what bootable windows cd I put in, XP, Vista, Windows 7 so on so forth, when it gets into the beginning of the Windows Setup it can not detect any hard drives... but if I pull the cd out and reboot, whalla, I am back in linux. Also, I have swapped the hard drive out with several others just to rule out that it could be the hard drive and the same thing happens. Once again, to clarify, I have tried every version of windows I have on a bootable CD, they work fine in other computers, just not this desktop, they boot into the installation program just fine but can not detect any hard drives.Thanks in advance for any and all help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MANEMAN Posted April 5, 2011 Report Share Posted April 5, 2011 Hi there.Format the drive with an NTFS file system should do the trick I would think.The installation process probably isn't seeing one (NT file system) if you have only been running Linux.John. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan-11 Posted April 5, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 5, 2011 Hi there.Format the drive with an NTFS file system should do the trick I would think.The installation process probably isn't seeing one (NT file system) if you have only been running Linux.John.I have also tried other hard drives (particularly two that have windows instaalls on them currently from other machines) and the same thing so I don't believe its the file system format. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan2273 Posted April 5, 2011 Report Share Posted April 5, 2011 Is the hard drive showing in the BIOS ?. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bludgard Posted April 6, 2011 Report Share Posted April 6, 2011 Hi there.Format the drive with an NTFS file system should do the trick I would think.The installation process probably isn't seeing one (NT file system) if you have only been running Linux.John.I have also tried other hard drives (particularly two that have windows instaalls on them currently from other machines)....This is dealing with different environmentts (hardware differentials and such), and rarely produces any satisfactory results.There are posts on some Linux forums indicating a format (as MANEMAN has suggested in an earlier post) as well as completely wiping the drive before a format. Windows installs to an "environment". If it dosn't like the area, it leaves town. If you have a drive to spare for trial and error, attempt to restore the drive to its factory condition by using the appropriate tool provided by the particular drives' manufacturers' website. I have run into stubborn installs. Wipe the disk. Completely format to NTFS (no quick formatting) . Boot from Windows install media. Install.Holla back'One Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted April 6, 2011 Report Share Posted April 6, 2011 Are the Windows disks you are trying to load the genuine Microsoft versions?(I note in the initial post your state "but no matter what bootable windows cd I put in" - all genuine Windows disks are bootable. This hints that you are using disks from another source. Apologies if I am wrong in thinking this.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan-11 Posted April 6, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2011 Are the Windows disks you are trying to load the genuine Microsoft versions?(I note in the initial post your state "but no matter what bootable windows cd I put in" - all genuine Windows disks are bootable. This hints that you are using disks from another source. Apologies if I am wrong in thinking this.)There are bootable Windows Discs (usually installation discs for upgrades and full installs) and their are non-bootable Window's discs (such as to upgrade from Service Pack 2 to Service Pack 3 and so on) available through Microsoft. That was what I was referring to simply to cut out any confusion of it not being proper windows install disc.. So to answer your question Yes all of them are Genuine Microsoft Discs, not burned copies or downloaded iso's which is what I am assuming you are referring to. Good question though and thanks everyone for the help, I am currently trying the factory wipe on one of the drives as suggested earlier and will post my results, thanks for the help again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bludgard Posted April 6, 2011 Report Share Posted April 6, 2011 Yes, please. Let's keep it clean.Windows lets you test drive the system for at least thirty days. I won't know if there are problems sometimes for a week or more. If I couldn't get Windows to install, I would tend to stay with an OS I am familliar with. Windows is not free, but it is certainly reliable and user friendly. I own a Windows system and will probably buy another key for 7 Pro sometime in the near future. "Test driving" the OS on a virtual machine sold me. I don't have a problem with doling out a few bucks on good tools as long as I can "Git er done" on time.Anyway, I'll see you guys around..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.